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When I say the world caught up, that doesn't mean that the US doesn't have the deepest pool of top basketball players from which to draw. US would win by 30 because the other great players are scattered throughout the various countries.

But - the US versus the World would be an interesting game, and you couldn't say that 20 years ago. Maybe even 10 years ago.

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When I say the world caught up, that doesn't mean that the US doesn't have the deepest pool of top basketball players from which to draw. US would win by 30 because the other great players are scattered throughout the various countries.

But - the US versus the World would be an interesting game, and you couldn't say that 20 years ago. Maybe even 10 years ago.

goalpost mover

Agreed with the above. This is not the tournament to make the world catch up argument. For the most part, the other countries sent their best players. We did not. If Team USA had sent LeBron, Davis, Kawhi, Harden and Curry, every game would have been a blowout and we would not be discussing anything other than that.

100% correct. I mean, Brown and Kemba and Mitchell, etc., are all fine players. But the best players in other countries are now as good as they are. The best players in other countries aren't close to as good as LeBron, Kawhi, Davis, Curry, etc. I mean, Giannis is, but not the Greek TEAM. The USA's "A" team wins this tournament in a complete wipeout.

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Looking back at earlier tournament losses: The 2002 Team USA was roster was drek, as most players really didn't care at the time.

The 2004 Olympic team was arguably the most talented team on the floor, even with the absence of many key NBA stars for various reasons. They were done in by bad roster construction and horrible coaching.

The road back started in 2006, and the loss to Greece was one of those fluke losses that can probably be attributed to the 40 minute FIBA game. Doubtful that US team loses a best-of-3 tournament against Greece under NBA rules.

In this most recent tournament, the talent gap was much more narrow, with a lot more NBA talent scattered across the various rosters. Makes for an interesting tournament when the outcome is not preordained, and also makes for a great experience for guys like Kemba and Brown (and Gobert and Baynes, et al). Still, the best Team USA roster would easily romp through any international tournament.

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To be fair to Turner, in the past our athletic big men would really dominate the generally slower, less explosive Euros. I remember not that long ago DeAndre Jordan and Kenneth Faried dominating the competition because there were not any big men that could even think about matching their leaping ability contesting lobs and rebounds. The problem with the game this morning was that France didn't have just a guy that could compete with our big men, they had the best interior defender in the world.

Member

To be fair to Turner, in the past our athletic big men would really dominate the generally slower, less explosive Euros. I remember not that long ago DeAndre Jordan and Kenneth Faried dominating the competition because there were not any big men that could even think about matching their leaping ability contesting lobs and rebounds. The problem with the game this morning was that France didn't have just a guy that could compete with our big men, they had the best interior defender in the world.

Member

Meh, I think this tournament is kinda weird in general. Giannis was benched the entire fourth in their game against us and I heard on a Ringer podcast that Serbia benched Jokic the last bit of their loss. It's definitely not a great sign, but all I'm taking from this is experience that four of the five most important Celtics players spent an extra month playing together.

lurker

Meh, I think this tournament is kinda weird in general. Giannis was benched the entire fourth in their game against us and I heard on a Ringer podcast that Serbia benched Jokic the last bit of their loss. It's definitely not a great sign, but all I'm taking from this is experience that four of the five most important Celtics players spent an extra month playing together.

Member

Eh, Porier not earning that many minutes with Rudy Gobert in the way isn't that much of a indicator of his ability. Given the US's small-ball rotation, Porier was basically forced to play only when Gobert was sitting, and since France needed Gobert to have a monster game to win, he wasn't going to get many minutes.

bet squelcher

In the 17 possessions after Myles scored to start the game we shot 2-14 with 0 offensive rebounds, 3 turnovers, and twice sent Serbia to the line for 3 FT's. I'm sure this is how Pop and Kerr envisioned their summer.

USA trailing 92-87 with :27 to go and Harris stepping to the line!! The drama! Edge of your seats stuff!

Edit: Harris makes 1 of 2, we take foul on Joker he converts both and its a 6-point game with :20 on clock. Timeout Pop!! I can't even imagine the screaming and intensity in the Team USA huddle right now! This reminds me of Chicago when Pippen pulled himself from the game when the ball wasn't going to him.

Edit2: Kemba in for Khris and misses a 3. He's clearly not ready for this stage. Myles grabs board, is fouled and makes 1 of 2. You can see the pressure getting to these guys. Tense.

Edit3: Team USA elects to allow Serbia to run the clock out in a 2 possession game, down 5, with :11 on the clock!! Who would have ever thought Pop would simply throw in the towel like this? QUITTERS!!!!

Member

Edit3: Team USA elects to allow Serbia to run the clock out in a 2 possession game, down 5, with :11 on the clock!! Who would have ever thought Pop would simply throw in the towel like this? QUITTERS!!!!

San Antonio had a big comeback working in the final minutes (and even got the game to within two points with 52.2 seconds left). But with just over 30 seconds left and the Nuggets leading by four points, San Antonio’s DeMar DeRozan missed on a drive to the basket, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic came away with the ball with 28 seconds remaining.

So, the Spurs found themselves down four, with 28 seconds and counting to go. In this situation, the Spurs needed to foul immediately, or go for a steal and foul within a few seconds if the steal attempt failed.

lurker

Disappointing effort from Team USA, but if De'Aaron Fox stays on the team and Tatum stays healthy, they're probably playing for the gold. Not much margin for error with the team Pop fielded yesterday and today.

bet squelcher

Disappointing effort from Team USA, but if De'Aaron Fox stays on the team and Tatum stays healthy, they're probably playing for the gold. Not much margin for error with the team Pop fielded yesterday and today.

The official website of FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and the governing body of Basketball. FIBA organises the most famous and prestigious international basketball competitions including the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA World Championship for Women and the FIBA 3x3 World...

The official website of FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and the governing body of Basketball. FIBA organises the most famous and prestigious international basketball competitions including the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA World Championship for Women and the FIBA 3x3 World...

The official website of FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and the governing body of Basketball. FIBA organises the most famous and prestigious international basketball competitions including the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA World Championship for Women and the FIBA 3x3 World...

The official website of FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and the governing body of Basketball. FIBA organises the most famous and prestigious international basketball competitions including the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA World Championship for Women and the FIBA 3x3 World...

White doesn’t factor at all here since he wasn’t in the regular rotation. Since you don’t really need a pure 1 in FIBA he’d be competing for minutes with Kemba, Middleton, Smart, Harris, etc so even if he was chosen to sit the bench over White he wasn’t seeing the floor ahead of those guys or else Pop would have had him ahead of them to begin with.

Fox has zero international experience that I know of. It is a different game with different rules so being “a helluva young player” in the NBA (which I absolutely agree with) while competing against grown men familiar with FIBA competition is not really an advantage. I didn’t expect much from Fox for these reasons plus I’ll trust Pop to confirm my thoughts with his evaluation of the player since he was with him during training.

lurker

White doesn’t factor at all here since he wasn’t in the regular rotation. Since you don’t really need a pure 1 in FIBA he’d be competing for minutes with Kemba, Middleton, Smart, Harris, etc so even if he was chosen to sit the bench over White he wasn’t seeing the floor ahead of those guys or else Pop would have had him ahead of them to begin with.

Fox has zero international experience that I know of. It is a different game with different rules so being “a helluva young player” in the NBA (which I absolutely agree with) while competing against grown men familiar with FIBA competition is not really an advantage. I didn’t expect much from Fox for these reasons plus I’ll trust Pop to confirm my thoughts with his evaluation of the player since he was with him during training.

Pop also saw fit to keep Plumlee and Lopez on the roster, and they turned out to be essentially useless. Pop is a fantastic coach, but he's not infallible. I find it hard to believe that at some point Fox's otherworldly speed would not have helped Team USA in this tournament.

Member

Pop also saw fit to keep Plumlee and Lopez on the roster, and they turned out to be essentially useless. Pop is a fantastic coach, but he's not infallible. I find it hard to believe that at some point Fox's otherworldly speed would not have helped Team USA in this tournament.

I think outside shooting is more important than otherworldy speed. Also, given the fact that there is no defensive 3 seconds, not sure how successful Fox would have been attacking the hoop.

It's too bad Brook Lopez couldn't shoot during the tournament. As this article suggests, if he had been able to hit some 3Ps, I assume the games would have really changed for the better. I wonder if Pop thought about trying to find another big who could shoot instead of taking Plumlee.

Well-Known Member

Monday morning QBing and all - I do think Fox's speed would have forced other teams to change their approach a bit. Essentially it seemed they decided in a one and done outcome they could force us to live and die by the 3pt sword. All they needed was an interior presence to play our bigs even and rim protect. When they got more our margin of error shrunk to an uncomfortable degree.

I'd also offer that in the current NBA with us throwing traditional 'big' play out the window we are going to face this issue constantly going forward - unless we get the Anthony Davis types to show up and play.

Member

Monday morning QBing and all - I do think Fox's speed would have forced other teams to change their approach a bit. Essentially it seemed they decided in a one and done outcome they could force us to live and die by the 3pt sword. All they needed was an interior presence to play our bigs even and rim protect. When they got more our margin of error shrunk to an uncomfortable degree.

I'd also offer that in the current NBA with us throwing traditional 'big' play out the window we are going to face this issue constantly going forward - unless we get the Anthony Davis types to show up and play.

I've thought about your point about centers but I think there are some promising US centers coming forward. Obviously Towns if he is going to play for US. And Ayton probably should turn into a stud. There are also Turner, Jarrett Allen, and Drummond (hard to believe he's only 25). And then are prospects like Thomas Bryant, Mitchell Robinson, TL, Bamba, John Collins.

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"You can't help but notice and remember who you thought you were going to war with and who didn't show up,'' USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said about Team USA's final roster for the FIBA World Cup.

www.espn.com

"Going forward for USA Basketball, we're going to need the cooperation of teams, agents and then there has to be communication with players one-on-one to solidify those commitments. I am going to be anxious to see how many players reach out early to indicate that they wish and want and desire to play ... But I'll make this statement: It's as much about maybe who we don't want as much as who we want."

So, who are these players Coangelo won't forget about? Fox, Bagley, others? He'll let Dame, Harden, and AD play in the olympics, he can't afford not to.

But, Anthony Davis is again the big loser and looks the worst here. He wants to become a superstar and grow his brand and NBA accolades, he plays the fewest games in his career this past year and wasn't even hurt, but still doesn't even consider playing for FIBA...

Baynes Hogan (pending trade)

I've thought about your point about centers but I think there are some promising US centers coming forward. Obviously Towns if he is going to play for US. And Ayton probably should turn into a stud. There are also Turner, Jarrett Allen, and Drummond (hard to believe he's only 25). And then are prospects like Thomas Bryant, Mitchell Robinson, TL, Bamba, John Collins.

bet squelcher

But, Anthony Davis is again the big loser and looks the worst here. He wants to become a superstar and grow his brand and NBA accolades, he plays the fewest games in his career this past year and wasn't even hurt, but still doesn't even consider playing for FIBA...

I don't blame him one bit nor do I think Davis cares what this looks like nor is anyone giving him any grief...….because I'll guess that <1% of American NBA fans care about this FIBA World Cup event at all. The only reason I cared was for financial reasons as I didn't feel they were good enough to win and not to actually root for them.

Member

I don't blame him one bit nor do I think Davis cares what this looks like nor is anyone giving him any grief...….because I'll guess that <1% of American NBA fans care about this FIBA World Cup event at all. The only reason I cared was for financial reasons as I didn't feel they were good enough to win and not to actually root for them.

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